BOISE, ID – The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) says fire conditions remain critical across parts of the western United States. Dry lightning and gusty winds are pushing thunderstorms into areas with very dry fuels, especially in Utah, Nevada, and southern Idaho, increasing the potential for new large wildfires.
As of Saturday morning, five new large fires were reported and 35 fires are not yet contained. States currently experiencing large wildfires include Washington (5), Arizona (5), Idaho (4), Colorado (3), and several others. Active fires have burned a total of 306,632 acres.
NIFC reports that 10,530 wildland firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to incidents nationwide. Resources include 213 hand crews, 533 engines, 103 helicopters, two Modular Airborne Firefighting System units, and eight incident management teams.
“We’re in the heart of summer, and the heart of the fire year,” the agency stated. “Fire danger can still be extreme. Critically dry fuels, low humidity, and gusty winds are a dangerous combination, especially when paired with lightning or human-caused ignitions.”
Saturday’s forecast calls for isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms across eastern and central Oregon and Washington, as well as western Idaho. Storm activity is expected to increase throughout the day and extend into northern California, western Montana, and the northern Great Basin. Some storms may even drift west of the Cascade Crest during the morning hours.
Very dry conditions will persist across much of Utah, Nevada, inland southern California, and southern Idaho, with relative humidity dropping as low as 4%. Gusty southwesterly winds reaching 30-40 mph are expected across southeastern Nevada and western Utah. Meanwhile, monsoon moisture continues to affect Arizona, New Mexico, and southeastern Utah, with scattered wet thunderstorms expected east of the Continental Divide.
“This fire year, we’re all part of the solution,” the agency said. “Working together to protect communities, support firefighters, and reduce human-caused ignitions is critical.”
